Man who obstructed investigation into the death of a worker gets a probation

Bismarck, North Dakota – After pleading guilty to obstructing a federal investigation into the death of an oil field worker in 2014, a former oil business maintenance manager was sentenced to one and a half years of probation.

U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland sentenced Stephen Reisinger on Thursday, saying he had showed remorse.

Reisinger had been sentenced to one and a half years in jail by federal prosecutors. Reisinger was working for Nabors Completion and Production Services Co. in Williston when an explosion killed a welder named Dustin Payne, 28.

Prosecutors say Reisinger deceived the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration during its investigation.